Saudi-led coalition strikes Houthi missile workshops in Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition fighting against the Houthi rebels in Yemen said early on Thursday that air strikes were launched on military targets in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and the north-western city of Saada.

A weapons depot and one of the main Houthi supply lines in Sanaa were among the targets of the strikes, the coalition said in a statement reported by state news agency SPA.

The coalition also said it destroyed Houthi workshops in Saada where ballistic missiles and drones were assembled.

The Houthis have repeatedly launched cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia using drones and missiles.

The coalition, which intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Iran-backed rebels seized the capital, has increased strikes on Houthi sites in Sanaa in recent days.

On Wednesday, the coalition said it destroyed an explosive-laden boat launched by the Houthis from Hodeidah on Yemen's Red Sea coast.

The coalition had earlier destroyed a drone that took off from Sanaa airport.

On Tuesday, it said it launched a strike on a site that belonged to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The coalition has told civilians not to gather at or approach potential targets.

Meanwhile, battles between government forces and the rebels have intensified in the northern city of Marib. The fighting has forced large numbers of people to flee to makeshift desert camps.

The city is the last northern bastion of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. Marib, about 170 kilometres east of Sanaa, is at a crossroads between the southern and northern regions of the country and includes a motorway to Saudi Arabia.

Marib province has oil and gasfields, making it a major economic prize.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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